is the dogs bollocks !!

I liked it.

I really hated the Queen storyline they added to this.

I liked Gorgo getting fleshed-out more (no pun intended). The movie needed some quiet moments in between the big battle sequences. I remember some of her lines drawing audible gasps and general "I'm impressed" sounds from the females in attendance when I saw this in the theater. Specifically the lines, "Because only Spartan women give birth to real men" and "This will not be over quickly. You will not enjoy this" (when she stabbed Councilman Theron at the end).

I hated how she fucked that guy to buy his cooperation. In the end, she fucked an asshole to get her way (now there's a strong female in a movie for you) and it ended up being pointless anyway.

Different cultures. If the story were taking place in the here and now, I might have agreed with you. And she was also desperate to save her country and I can appreciate that.